Prime Minister Urges Free Access to Champions League Final
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has taken a bold step in calling on TNT Sports to make the upcoming Champions League final between Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain accessible without charge. This move comes after the broadcaster, which is owned by Warner Bros Discovery, announced that the match will only be available through its platform or HBO Max, both of which require a subscription.
TNT Sports has historically offered free streaming for the Champions League final in previous years, but this year’s decision has sparked significant backlash. The final will be held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on Saturday, 30 May, and viewers will need to pay for access. The cost of a subscription to HBO Max starts at £4.99, which the broadcaster describes as “exceptional value.” However, this marks the first time since the European Cup rebranded to the Champions League in 1992 that the final will not be available for free.
Starmer, who is known for his support of Arsenal, has written an open letter to TNT Sports, urging them to reconsider their decision. He emphasized that the issue is not just about his team but about ensuring that all football fans can enjoy the game without financial barriers.
“I was saddened to see that, for the first time since the competition started 34 years ago, TNT Sports has decided that the Champions League final will not be free to watch for football supporters here in the UK,” Starmer wrote. “The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country – the home of football.”
He added, “I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not. Obviously, I want as many fellow fans as possible to be able to watch our team in this historic final for the first time in 20 years. However, this is bigger than that. This is about supporters of all teams coming together in living rooms and pubs in every corner of the country to watch the most elite players in Europe battle it out.”
In response, a spokesperson for TNT Sports stated, “It has been a privilege to bring Uefa club competitions to sports fans across the UK throughout the season. Having three Premier League clubs reach the finals shows the strength of English football and something that we are proud to continue to support. We have made all three Uefa finals this year available from just £4.99, the price for a month-long subscription to HBO Max that also includes the great entertainment on the service. This represents exceptional value for fans to watch the conclusion of the competitions.”
Arsenal’s journey to the Champions League final is a historic one, marking their second appearance in the competition and the first since 2006. They will face reigning champions PSG, with the chance to secure a remarkable double after winning the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
According to reports, the governing body Uefa is reportedly upset with TNT Sports’ decision to charge fans for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League finals. The decision contradicts previous agreements where these matches were available for free. Uefa sources claim that the move breaks the spirit of a contract requiring “best endeavours” to ensure the finals are accessible without cost.
Starmer has also drawn parallels between this situation and his previous efforts to make World Cup tickets more affordable. He has encouraged FIFA to take similar steps, emphasizing the importance of putting supporters first.
“We should be putting supporters first,” Starmer said. “That is why I have already encouraged Fifa to do more to make tickets more affordable at this summer’s World Cup. That is also why I want to strongly urge you to reconsider and make the final next Saturday free to watch for the millions of passionate football fans in this country.”
TNT Sports is set to lose the TV rights to all three European competitions from the 2027-28 season. They were outbid by Paramount for the Champions League and by Sky Sports for the Europa League and Conference League in Uefa’s media rights auction last year.
